Archive By Author - Susan Thacker

Farmers markets and community gardens are still supplying fresh produce, said Barton County Extension Agent Donna Krug. She recently presented a program on the benefits of "locally grown" food and its preservation.

Lt. Brian J. Bellendir bested incumbent Greg Armstrong and former Lt. Richard W. Unrein to win the Republican primary for Barton County Sheriff. His will be the only name on the ballot for that office in November. With votes from all 40 precincts counted for the unofficial total Tuesday night, Bellendir led with 2,262 votes, or 46.94 percent. Armstrong had 37.6 percent with 1,812 votes, and Unrein trailed with 15.46 percent, 745 votes.

Barton Community College employees showed visitors some of the latest improvements Thursday. During an open house for the fully renovated Student Union, the college also invited people to look inside the mobile training center for Barton's natural gas transmission and distribution program. The mobile unit is the first of its kind.

Editor's Note: This is the first of two stories on finance reports filed by candidates for office. Today's story is based on reports filed in the Barton County Clerk's Office. Part II will look at the reports filed in Topeka by candidates for the Kansas Senate District 33 and the House of Representatives District 112.

Anyone who has ever wanted more information about an exhibit at the Barton County Historical Village and Museum usually has only to ask Beverly Komarek or one of her many volunteers. But now some of the items on display can tell their own story, thanks to interpretive signs going up in the museum's historic and authentically furnished period buildings.

A visual gag being forwarded on the Internet shows a bottle cap as the "new Kansas rain gauge." Wednesday night's downpour of less than two-tenths of an inch won't stop the cyber commentaries and won't change the news that across the nation, this year's drought is being called the worst since the Dust Bowl days in the Depression.

When Great Bend Police Officer Jacob Harlow's two children are old enough for school, he hopes they'll get something like the DARE program's new "Keepin' it REAL" class. In fact, he wouldn't mind teaching it to them.

ELLINWOOD - Politicians and political ads were in abundance Saturday for the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival parade. This year's lineup included 95 entries, said Richard Kimple with the Ellinwood Rotary Club, organizers of the parade. At least a dozen of them carried people running for office, or were decorated with candidates' names.

Editor's note: This is the first of two stories about Thursday's candidates' forum, and features comments by candidates for the Legislature. Part II will appear in Sunday's Great Bend Tribune and will include remarks from candidates for Barton County sheriff, county treasurer and county commissioner.

The Barton Community College Board of Trustees on Thursday approved next year's operating budget and publication of a proposed budget. The estimated local tax would be 32.77 mills, similar to the last two years.